Separable unit type action and case shift mechanism for noiseless typewriters



Sept. 30, 1958 F. w. SCHREMP 2,854,119

SEPARABLE UNIT TYPE ACTION AND CASE SHIFT MECHANISM FOR NOISELESS TYPEWRITERS 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 24, 1954 INVENTOR. FREDERICK.W,SCH5EMP AM, 0W

ATTOR NEY Sept. 30, 1958 F. w. SCHREMP 2,354,119

SEPARABLE UNIT TYPE ACTION AND CASE SHIFT MECHANISM FOR NOISELESS TYPEWRITERS Filed Feb. 24, 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. FREDE'R'CK W- SCH REM P v dfim ms w ATTORNEY Sept. 30, 1958 F. w. SCHREMP 2,854,119

SEPARABLE UNIT TYPE ACTION AND CASE SHIFT MECHANISM FOR NOISELESS TYPEWR'ITERS Filed Feb. 24. 1954 s Sheets-Sheet s INVENTOR. FREDERICK W- SCHREMP yinmifiw ATTO R N EY Sept. 30, 1958 E. w. SCHREMP SEPARABLE UNIT TYPE ACTION AND CASE SHIFT MECHANISM FOR NOISELESS TYPEWRITERS 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Feb. 24. 1954 INVENTOR. FREDERICK W. SCHREMP.

AIIO R NEY P 30, 1958 F. w. SCHREMP SEPARABLE UNIT TYPE ACTION AND CASE SHIFT MECHANISM FOR NOISELESS TYPEWRITERS 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Feb. 24, 1954 II I 4 am/5y United States Patent SEPARABLE UNIT TYPE ACTION AND CASE SHIFT MECHANISM FOR NOISELESS TYPE- WRITERS Frederick W. Schremp, Stamford, Comm, assignor, by

mesne assignments, to Sperry Rand Corporation, Wilmington, Del., a corporation of Delaware Application February 24, 1954, Serial No. 412,208

11 Claims. (Cl. 197-25) This invention relates generally to typewriting machines having noiseless type actions of the kind disclosed in U. S. patents to G. G. Going No. 1,573,544 of February 16, 1926; No. 1,604,640 of October 26, 1926 and No. 1,682,330 of August 28, 1928, and more particularly to improved case shifting and manifolding mechanisms for typewriting machines having such noiseless type actions.

In typewriting machines employing noiseless type actions, or actions having endwise movement to and from the platen as distinguished from type actions employing the hammer blow principle, case shifting to select be tween either upper or lower case printing has heretofore usually been accomplished by elevating and lowering the platen and its supporting carriage relative to the type bars. However, in front-strike machines, it has long been recognized as desirable to shift the type actions rather than the platen and its supporting carriage to effect a shift from lower case printing to upper case printing due to the fact that the power required to effect a shift of the type actions is always the same and therefore uniform, whereas the power required to shift the platen and its supporting carriage increases as the length and weight of the carriage is increased.

One object of the present invention, therefore, is to make substantial improvements in-the design and construction of the case shifting mechanism for a typewriting machine employing noiseless type actions so that the power required to effect a shift between lower and upper case printing remains constant regardless of changes made in the length, weight and/ or mass of the platen and its supporting carriage.

To accomplish this and other beneficial results, the present invention contemplates the provision of means for effecting case shifting by imparting angular rocking motion to the type segment which supports the conventional noiseless type actions without disturbing the leverage or modifying the operation of any part of the type actions by their actuating keys.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved case shifting mechanism for noiseless typewriting machines which makes it possible to build more stability into the platen and its supporting carriage thereby affording better alignment and print work than has heretofore been possible.

Further objects of the invention are to provide a noiseless typewriting machine with an improved case shifting mechanism that may be either manually or power operated and in which the type actions can be made as a unit assembly with the type segment and actuated by their associated driving means through surface engagement only.

More specifically it is an object of the present invention to provide a noiseless typewriting machine with a pivoted type segment for supporting endwise moving type actions and rocking such segment to cause a shift' Z,854,l l9 Patented Sept. 30, 1958 between upper and lower case printing upon depression of a case shifting key.

A still further object of the invention is to provide means for selectively moving the pivoted type segment in a substantially horizontal plane toward and from the platen for manifolding purposes.

Other objects of the invention relate to details of construction, arrangement of parts and in the economies thereof, as will become apparent from a consideration of the following specification and drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary, vertical longitudinal section of a power operated noiseless typewriting machine illustrating the central one of the noiseless type actions, its pair of actuating keys and associated rock and actuating levers with the parts in normal, idle lower case position.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary, perspective view showing the type bar segment pivoted for rocking movement between the machine-side frames and the case shift actuating means for rocking such segment between upper and lower case printing positions.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of Fig. 2 but showing a few of 1 the rock and operating levers intermediate the type actions and their actuating keys.

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal vertical section taken on a plane corresponding to line 44 of Fig. 3 clearly illustrating the improved power operated case shift mechanism for rocking the pivoted type bar segment, and,

Figs. 5 to 8 inclusive are fragmentary side elevational detail views illustrating the four printing positions of each noiseless type action.

The machine chosen for purposes of illustrating the present invention may, as heretofore stated, be either manually or power operated through the conventional standard keyboard composed of the usual four banks of typing keys with each type bar carrying four types and being operated by either of two typing of actuating keys. Each pair of typing keys actuates a single front-strike end thrust type bar with a pressure imprint in a substantially noiseless manner to normally, selectively print from one or another lower case types on the type bar depending upon which of the two keys is depressed, or to selectively print from one or another upper case types on the same bar after a case shift of the type bar supporting segment, relative to the platen, has been effected in accordance with the improved case shifting mechanism of the present invention.

The invention is further characterized by the fact that neither the platen nor its supporting carriage receives a case shifting movement, but instead, the segment carrying the noiseless type actions is pivotally mounted for angular rocking movement to condition the machine so that each type bar may be caused to travel toward a common printing point and thereby selectively effect an imprint from any one of the four types thereon.

to a power operated typewriting machine which is similar in many respects to a No. 10 Remington Noiseless Machine 'having type actions of the kind disclosed in the aforementioned Going patents, and only so much of the machine has been shown in the drawings as is deemed necessary for a full understanding of the improved case shifting and manifolding mechanisms as applied thereto.

For a complete understanding of the parts of this machine that are not shown in the present drawings, and which are not necessarily modified by the present invention, reference may be madeto the above mentioned Going patents.

General description It is believed that the detailed description of the present invention will be more readily understood if it is prebars move.

connected to an operating lever 34 by a link 35.

ventional noiseless type actions of the kind disclosed in the above mentioned Going patents.

.With reference to Figs. land S, to 8 respectively, it will be observed that each type bar 1 carries four types 2,3, 4 and 5 and that it is pivotally supported on a pair of guide links 6 and 7 for movement toward and from 'acommon printing point. The lower end of guide link 7 is pivoted at 8 on an arm- 9, the latter being adjustablysecured to a type action hanger or supporting bracket 10.- The lower end of guide link 6 is pivoted at'-11 to a bell-crank lever 12 and this bell-crank lever is pivoted at 13 to an arm 14 also adjustably secured to the hanger or bracket 10. The other arm of bell-crank lever-12 is'- pivoted to a link 15 which in turn is pivotally connected to a sub-lever .16, the sub-lever being pivoted at 17 to hanger 10. Each noiseless type action has a second sub-lever 18, also pivoted-at 17 to hanger 10, but this sub-lever is shorter than sub-lever 16 with no connection to the bell-crank lever 12. An actuating lever 19,'piv0ted at 20 to hanger 10, is rocked clockwise (as viewed in Fig. 1) by either sub-lever 16 or 18 to move type bar 1 toward the printing point through an arm 21, toggle members 22 and 23 and momentum accumulator 24 in a manner now well understood in the art of noiseless type actions. The type bars 1 are further guided against sidewise displacement in their movement toward and from the printing point by two arc-shaped guides .25-and 26 each having radial slots 27 in which the type These guides are preferably in the form of arcuate shaped castings and are suitably connected to andsupported by a third casting 28 hereinafter referred toas the .type bar segment.

In conventional typewriting machines having noiseless type actions, the type bar segment 28 has heretofore been rigidly mounted between the conventional spaced side frames or plates 29 and 30, but according to the present invention, this segment is mounted for rocking movement between the side frames 2930 by means of pivot pins 31 in the front and shift link studs 32 at the rear. As' best shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4, the pivotpins 31' are carried by the upper ends of levers 33 and. the lower ends of such levers are pivoted at 134 to side frames 29 and respectively for manifolding purposes in a manner presently made clear.

Each sub-lever 16 and '18 (see Figs. 1, 5 and 7) is The upper end of each link 35 ispivotally connected to its respective sub-lever at 36 and its lower end pivotally connected to its associated operating lever at 37. The operating levers 34 are in spaced transverse horizontal alignment and pivoted between their ends upon a pivot rod 38, mounted in a cross bar 39 secured to and movable with the type bar segment 28. The forward end of each operating lever 34 carries a roller 40 and a spring 41, anchored between said lever and a plate 42 mounted on the cross bar 39, serves to hold the roller 40 in surface contact with the working edge 43 of its associated rock lever or operating bar 44. The rock levers or opcrating bars 44 are also in spaced transverse horizontal .alignment beneath their associated operating levers 34 The case shift mechanism for rocking the type bar segment 28 upon pivot pins 31 will now be described in detail, attention being directed particularly to Figs. 2, 3 and 4. For power operated machines, the case shift mechanism preferably includes a pawl type clutch having a latch designed for half cycle operation so that upon depression of either the right or left shift key lever 48, type bar segment 28 is rocked clockwise on pivots 31 (as viewed inFig. 4) to effect printing from one or the ing upon which of its two typing keys 56-57 has been depressed.

As shown best in Figs. 2 and 4 the pawl type clutch comprises a disc 50 having equally spaced notches 51 formed in its periphery, the disc being fixed for rotation with a shaft 52 that is rotatably journalled in bearings 58 mounted .in'the side frames 2930 respectively. A cam 55,- freely mounted on shaft 52 adjacent disc 50, has a pawl 53 pivotally mounted thereon at 54 and the nose 59 of said pawl is normally held free of disc 50 or out of engagement with the notches 51 by blocking engagement of latch 60 with projection 61 formed on the pawl. Latch 60 is substantially L-shaped and is mounted for pivotal movement upon a stud 62 that' projects inwardly from the left hand side frame or plate 29.

The case shift levers 48 are'joined so as to move in unison in the conventional and well known manner and are pivotedupon shaft 49 which is mounted between the side framesg Depression of either case shift key lever 48 -rocks latch 60 counterclockwise (Figs. 2 and 4) through an adjustable wire link 63 and pivoted lever 64.

Upon counterclockwise rocking of latch 60, pawl 53 is released allowing spring 65 to engage the nose 59 of the pawl with one of the notches 51 inthe disc 50.

Spring, 65 is suitably anchored between studs carried by the pawl and .disc respectively. A second latch 66,

pivoted at 67 to a cross bar 68which is supported by the side frames, is connected to latch 60 through a link 69 and upon counterclockwise rotation of latch 60, latch 66 is accordingly rocked counterclockwise to position its nose 70 into'the path of projection 61 whereby nose 59 of pawl 53 is disengaged from notch 51 in disc 50 after the cam 55 has been rotated one-half cycle or 180. Cooperating with the periphery of cam 55 is a follower roller 71 rotatably mounted on an arm 72 fast on shaft 73, the shaft being pivotally mounted between. the side frames '2930 respectively. Another arm 74 also fast on shaft 73 is connected to the left hand crank arm by link 76, the crank arm being pivoted midway its ends upon a stud 77 projecting inwardly from the left side frame 29. The other end of left crank arm 75 is connected by a short link 78 to the left hand shift link stud 32 carried by the type bar segment 28 as previously mentioned. A corresponding arm 74av (Fig. 2), crank arm 75aand links 76a and 78a disposed adjacent the right hand side frame 30 are connected with the right "Detent means are provided for positioning and holding the high and low sides of cam 55 in vertical alignment during the times when pawl 53 is disengaged from the notched disc 50. This means comprises a detent arm 99 which is pivoted at 100 to a lug projecting rearwardly from cross bar 68. Arm 99 carries a roller 101 on its free end which is held by a spring 103 in engagement with one or the other of a pair of shallow notches 102 formed in the hub of cam 55. One end of spring v103 is received by a horizontal bore in cross bar 68 and its other end bears against a tail 104 of arm 99 to normally urge the arm counterclockwise (as viewed in Fig. 4)

to hold roller 101 within either groove 102 depending upon the position of cam 55.

The construction is such that shaft 52 is rotated counterclockwise by power roll shaft 82 through suitable pulleys 83 and belt 84 as clearly shown in Figs. 2 and .4.

-It will now be understood that whenever either of the shift key levers 48 is depressed, cam 55 will be rotated counterclockwise; whereupon the arms 72, 74 and 74a and crank arms 75 and75a willbe rocked counterclockwise to permit type segment 28 to be rocked counterclockwise on pivots 31 through the shift balance springs 79 connected between studs 80 and 81 to position the types 3 and 5 on the type bars 1 for upper case printing. The type segment 28 will remain in upper case position as long as the case shift keys 48, remain depressed by when such keys are released, latch 60 will be rocked clockwise under the influence of spring 85 to disengage nose 70 of latch 66 from holding engagement with projection 61 on pawl 53. Nose 59 of pawl 53 is then reenegaged with the notched disc 50 thus driving the cam 55 another 180 whereupon it is stopped by disengagement of the pawl from the notched disc by latch 60. This half cycle rotation of the cam 55 returns the follower roller 71 to the high spot on the cam 55 whereupon the type segment 28 is lowered to normal lower case position against the tension of the springs '79. In order to accurately position the type segment 28 for lower case printing position, a pair of adjustable stops 86 are provided for engagement with a fixed member 87 supported between the side frames, the stops being mounted for vertical adjustment in the type segment 28 as clearly shown in Fig. 4.

Manifolding mechanism Provision is made for moving the type segment 28 towards and from the platen 87 for manifolding purposes, and as shown in Fig. 2 in the instant disclosure this means may comprise a pair of cams 88 mounted on a transverse shaft 39 supported in brackets 90 secured to the side frames 29 and 39 by screws 91. A hand dial 92, fastened on the shaft 89, is arranged for manual rotation in either direction and when rotated in one. direction moves levers 33 upon their pivots 134 to shift the type segment 28 toward the platen 87, and when rotated in a reverse direction, moves the type segment in a direction away from the platen. Such movement of levers 33 is accomplished by their engagement with a pair of cams 88, fast on shaft 89 aswili be clear from Figs.

2 and 4. 1

An important feature of the present invention resides in the fact that when the type segment 28 is shifted to the upper and lower case printing positions, or rocked upon the pivots 31, rollers 40 will be moved along the working edge 43 of the rock levers or operating bars 44 so as not to change the leverage of the type actions in their movement toward and from the printing point.

The type action power mechanism shown in Figs' 1 and 2 is substantially the same in principle as the power mechanism used in the Remington Electri-conorny machine except that the rise of the'power arms 93 is transmitted by means of adjustable wire links 94, cranks 95' and links 96 to rock levers or operating bars 44 about the common fulcrum or pivot 45.

The rise of the power arms is effected through the conventional cam 97 which is rotated into contact with the power roll 98 when its associated key lever is depressed.

In manual machines, the rock levers 44 may be directly connected with the key levers so that upon depression of said key levers or operating bars the rock levers 44 will be moved clockwise and in turn actuate their respective type actions.

The embodiment of the present invention illlustrated and described herein is by way of example only, and the scope of the present invention is not limited to the same or to the particular details thereof but is commensurate with any and all novel subject matter contained herein which may at any time properly under the patent laws be set forth in the claims hereof or originating herein and the elements of any of such claims are intended to include their functional or structural equivalents.

The invention claimed is:

1. In a typewriting machine of the class having a series of type actions, each action including an end thrust type 6 bar provided with two lower and two upper case types and a pair of typing keys for each type bar selectively operative to print from one or another-of said types depending upon the key actuated, the combination of a pairof spaced side frames; a type bar segment for supporting said type bars; means supporting said segment for angular rocking movement relative to said frames; at least one case shift key; means connecting said case shift key with said segment to effect angular movement of the segment, upon depression of said case shift key, for positioning said upper case types for printing upon depression of their associated actuating 'keys; and means for moving said segment horizontally fore and aft of the machine between said frames for manifolding purposes.

2. In a typewriting machine having noiseless type actions, each type action including a type bar with two lower and two upper case types thereon and a pair of independently moving typing, keys for each type bar, case shifting means for shifting said typebars between lower and upper case printing positions comprising: means for supporting said type bars for endwise movement toward and from a common printing point including a type bar segment; means pivotally supporting said segment within said machine; a case shift key; means operable in re.- sponse to depression of said case shift key for rocking said segment and thereby conditioning said type bars for upper case printing; and operating connections between each type bar and its associated pair of typing keys including a pair of rock levers and a pair of operating levers that are automatically disconnected from one another when the segment is removed from the machine and automatically brought into cooperating relation when the segment is replaced.

3. In a typewriting machine having noiseless type ac.- tions, each action including a type bar having upper and lower case types thereon and a pair of independently moving key levers for each type bar, means for shifting said type bars between upper and lower case printing position comprising: a type bar supporting member in which the type bars are mounted for endwise movement toward and from a common printing point; means pivotally supporting said supporting member within said machine; a case shift key; means operable upon depression of said case shift key to rock said supporting member upon its pivots to thereby condition said type bar for upper case printing; and connections between each type bar and its associated key lever including an operating lever and a rock lever having surface engagement only and freely separable from one another when said supporting member is removed from the machine.

4. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a pair of spaced frame members; a type bar segment pivotally supported between said frame members; a series of noiseless type actions made in two freely separable units, one unit of which is carried by said type bar segment and comprises a series of type bars mounted for endwise movement toward and from a common printing point, two lower and two upper case types on each type bar a pair of operating levers for each type bar and operative connections between each operating lever and its related type bar; and the other unit of which is carried by said frame members and comprises a series of independently movable key levers, an operating bar for each key lever and operative connections between each key lever and its related operating bar; means drivingly engaging the operating levers of one unit with the operating bars of the other unit through surface engagement only; a case shift key; and connections between said case shift key and said type bar segment whereby depression of said case shift 4 key imparts angular movement to said type bar segment to effect printing from either of said upper case types in accordance with the key lever depressed and without changing the travel of said type bars in their flight toward or from the printing point.

5. In a typewriting or like machine, the combination of a pair of spaced frame members; a support mounted for angular movement between said frame members; a series of radially disposed endwise moving type bars operatively carried by said support; a plurality of upper and lower case types on each of said type bars; a pair of independently depressible actuating keys for each type bar; operating connections between each actuating key and its associated type bar including a pivoted operating lever and a pivoted operating bar; means operatively connecting said operating levers and said operating bars through surface contact only; means including a case shift key to impart angular movement to said support and type bars when printing from said upper case types is desired; and means including a cam cooperable with said support for moving said support horizontally in addition to angularly, and means for manually rotating said cam.

6. In a noiseless typewritingmachine, the'combination of a series of noiseless type actions made in two'freely separable units, one unit of which comprises a series of endwise moving type'bars, at least oneoperating lever for each type bar, and operative connections between each operating lever and its associated type bar; and the other unit of which comprises a series of independentlymovable key levers an operating bar for each keylever, and oper ative connections between each key lever and its associated operating bar; characterized bythe fact th at motion transmitting engagement between the operating levers and operating'bars of said units is throughsurfacecontact only when said units are in cooperative relation with one another in said machine. p i 7. Ina noiselesstypewriting machine, the'combination as claimed in claim' 6 wherein the motion transmitting engagement between the operating levers and operating bars through surface contact only comprises a roller for each of said operating levers having rolling contact with an edge surface of its corresponding operating bar.

8. In a noiseless typewriting machine, the combination of a series of endwise moving type bars substantially horizontally disposed in an arc in front of and around of a common printing point; a pivotally mounted type segment operatively' supporting said type bars; a series ot'transversely aligned operating levers pivotally mounted upon said type segment below said type bars; operativeconnections between said operating levers and said type bars; a' series of independently movable key levers; a series of transversely aligned operating bars pivotally mounte d' below saidseries of transversely aligned operating levers; operative connections between said key levers and said operating bars; a roller for each of said operatinglevers, said rollers having motion transmitting engagement with their corresponding operating bars through surface eontact only; and case shifting means operable to rock said type segment about its pivot to condition said type bars for upper and lower case printingwhereby the positionv of said rollers on said operating leversare shifted with respect to saidtransversely aligned operating bars without changing the length of travel. of said type bars in their flight toward andfrom said printing point for either upper or lower case positions of said segment. 4

9. ha noiseless typewriting machine, the combination as claimed in claim 8 wherein there are twooperating levers, two operating bars, and two 'key levers for each type bar. I a 7 10. In a noiseless typewriter ,machine, the combination as claimed in claim 8 wherein each operating bar has its roller contacting surface lying in a plane substantially perpendicular to a plane intersecting the pivot for said type segment and said roller at its point of contact with the contacting surface of said operating bar,'and wherein the distance in said second mentioned plane is equal between the pivot for said type segment and the point of roller contact with the roller contacting surface of said operating bar in both upper and lower case positions.

11. In a noiseless typewriting machine, the combination of a series of endwise moving type bars substantially horizontally disposed in an arc in front of and around a common printing point; a pivotally mounted type segment operatively' supporting said type'bars; a series of transversely aligned operating levers pivotally mounted upon said type segment below said type bars; operative connections between said operating levers and said type bars; a series of independently movable key levers; a series of transversely aligned operating bars pivotally mounted below said series of transversely aligned operating levers; operative connections between said key levers and said operating bars; motion transmitting meanson each of said operating levers having motion transmitting engagement with the related operating bars through surface contact only; and case shifting means operable to rock said type segment about its pivot to condition said type bars for upper and lower case printing whereby the position of said'motion transmitting means on said operating levers.

is shifted with respect to said transversely aligned operating bars without changing the length of travel of said type bars in their flight toward and'from said printing point foreither upper or lower case positions of said segment.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,574,285 Going Feb. 23, 1926 2,312,737 Thompson Mar. 2, 1943 2,437,804 Brumhill et a1 Mar. 16, 1948 2,681,720 Yaeger June 22, 1954 

